Free Comic Book Day Reviews

Tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day, perhaps one of the greatest days of the year for comic book fans. This year there will be a lot of incredible offerings for FCBD, but we might not all be able to grab every single one of the books. So if you have to choose, we thought we’d give you a quick review guide of some of the cooler and more popular titles available in stores tomorrow.

Street Fighter #0

This one is a new Capcom themed offering from the beloved Udon Entertainment, a company known for its stunning Asian influenced art. Later this year they have a new Street Fighter IV graphic novel hitting stores. This Saturday it is a free, oversized comic with 3 great tales by Jim Zub (Skullkickers), Hanzo Steinbach, Ken Siu-Chong, Takeshi Miyazawa, Chris Sarracini, and Joe Ng.

Zub’s story is first in the comic, so let’s talk about it first. Steinbach provides some great art on the book, which is wonderfully colored. The story focuses on a martial arts student of a well known Street Fighter character and has a few fun surprise twists that really bring you directly into the Street Fighter feel.

Siu Chong’s story features Juri and Bison, amongst others, and leads into Super Street Fighter volume 1 &2. It feels a lot like a 90’s cartoon, switching from fast paced action to slow and wordy panels that are filled with slightly over dramatic dialogue. Sadly Miyazawa’s ink is also a little heavy, with some dark and excessive shading and action lines.

The final story is a lead in to Street Fighter Origins: Akuma. It is perhaps the best of the three, ending the comic strong. Chris Sarracini writes a fun tale about Akuma’s entrance into underground fighting, which Joe Ng pencils nicely and Espen Grundetjern ties together with a wonderful bow of excellent colors. This is one of those stories that actually makes me love good martial arts comics, talking about fighting form and showing dynamic art for various attacks. All three stories were lettered impeccably by Marshall Dillon.

Overall this is one of the comics worth tracking down this Free Comic Book Day, and I give it a nice 8 out of 10

Dark Horse’s 2014 FCBD comic

This issue also features a trio of great stories, with a new Avatar the Last Airbender tale by Gene Luen Yang (Boxers & Saints) and Faith Erin Hicks (The Last of Us American Dream), an Itty Bitty Hellboy tale by Art Baltazar and Franco (Tiny Titans), and Juice Squeezers by David Lapham.

The Avatar story is certainly the star of this book, gaining the cover and likely being the reason most people will pick it up. The story inside definitely shows it is deserving, too. Inside we get the origin of the Kyoshi warriors, told after a frightful interaction with a store that is loosely veiled as a Avatar equivalent to a comic shop that is run by a misogynistic store owner hopefully unlike any comic shop owner you’ll ever meet. It brings up a topic that is often talked about these days, with “fake female Geeks” (or seashell collectors in this case), one of those hot button issues we hope eventually fades as equality becomes the norm. How it ties these topics together, you’ll have to read to find out. Wonderfully done, this is very reminiscent of the episode where Sokka met Suki, and has both characters bringing that tale full circle. Yang still knows how to write the Avatar characters just right. On the art end, Hicks gives us a very different look for the Avatar characters, but it is wonderfully charming and fitting the story. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Faith Erin Hicks draw another Avatar story or perhaps her own Martial Arts themed comic.

Art and Franco’s Itty Bitty Hellboy short is the traditional fun you’d expect from the duo. It is a quick gag over 2-pages, but it is humorous and good for all ages.

Speaking of all ages, a writer I never expected an all ages book from is probably David Lapham, but surprises tend to be good with that author, as he provides a short related to his upcoming all ages graphic novel, Juice Squeezers, which will be out this August. The short is called Ants in Your Pants and involves just that. Introducing us to two of the Juice Squeezers, Marko and Adam, we get a fun revenge story of a young nerd defeating the mean jock with his brains. Lapham also provides art on this and it is simple, yet fitting, giving the comic a very 70’s vibe.

The latter two tales of this comic might not appeal to as many as the very fun Avatar tale, but they’re enjoyable. Still, the Avatar story is certainly the star of the book and what people will want it for. I give Dark Horses FCBD offering a 6 out of 10, but the Avatar tale itself would be much closer to an 8.

Marvel’s Rocket Racoon FCBD comic

This issue has 2 tales, the first of which focusing on Rocket Raccoon of this summers Guardians of the Galaxy movie. The character and the film are not necessarily ones I would target towards children, but this story by Joe Caramagna surprisingly is. This is not Skottie Young’s Rocket Raccoon, which comes out this July, but does feature a nifty cover by Young. Instead this tale is written by Caramagna and drawn by Adam Archer. Featuring an entirely anthropomorphic animal cast, Rocket plays a slightly Han Solo-esque character in this story that is actually both cute and hilarious. It fits beautifully with Carmagna’s second story in the issue, which takes place in the Ultimate Spider-Man TV series universe and also finds its setting in space. Both stories are all ages appropriate and filled with cute art and aliens. It is a fun and simple collection that can be enjoyed by all ages to be honest, and you can’t go wrong there. An easy 8 out of 10.

Worlds of Aspen 2014

Aspen is debut 2 new series in this free comic book day issue, with the preludes to both Damsels In Excess and Peter Steigerwald’s long awaited Zoohunters. Last year’s Aspen FCBD issue had a preview of Zoohunters as well, but this time we get an actual bit of story that introduces us to Minalara. Minalara is a wild animal hunter who captures rare and exotic alien species for various reasons. It also seems her skin color changes, much like Grace’s hair in one of the other Aspen books, Soulfire. In this introductory story we see some incredibly stunning visuals from Steigerwald and meet what looks to be the story’s antagonist. It has me rather looking forward to the fall release of this comic that was first announced years ago. In Damsels in Excess we see a story that will come to print a bit sooner, looking at a summer release, from Vince Hernandez and Mirka Andolfo. It is a kind of Disney princesses meets Real House Wives type of story, with reality show aspects of having the princesses in a land with no men talk to the metaphorical camera (or simply break the fourth wall if you will). It’s actually quite funny so far as we are just introduced to the intriguing cast of 5 young women, there magical talking pets, and an antagonist who brought a very unique curse upon the realms that make up this world. Andolfo’s art shifts from sexy to simple a cute from panel to panel but it really works with the story and vaguely reminds me of Grace Randolph’s Supurbia comic series. Also in the book is a double sided pull-out poster featuring art for Jirni volume 2 and Lola XOXO. The entire book is filled with notably amazing lettering provided by Aspen’s in-house letterer, Josh Reed. Overall this is certainly a comic worth grabbing to explore some of the better options in indy comic publishing, and I can easily give this a 9 out of 10.

Archaia Anthology

For the second year in a row, Archaic has the best presentation for FCBD with yet another hardcover anthology. Aside from being the thickest and most durable of the free comics, it has a beautiful design and even a book plate for personalizing your copy. Inside are stories from Mouse Guard, Rust, Labyrinth, Bolivar, Will O’The Wisp, and Farscape.

The Mouse Guard tale is a cute and well drawn piece of work, as all of Mouse Guard tends to be. It focuses on the story of the Axe Trio, three unique daughters who had to rise up and take over for their father who was a Guardmouse. Short yet sweet. In Royden Lepp’s Rust we get another short, sweet tale. Here we find the character Jet learning to fly, quite literally, under very dangerous test conditions. It is simple and yet heart warming, much like the Mouse Guard tale.

The Labyrinth tale in this anthology focuses on Ludo and the concept of friendship. Fans of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth film will be delighted to see some familiar faces, certainly. The art is also quite wonderful here and we keep with the heart warming trend of tales. Bolivar’s tale also keeps with this trend, but throws in a bit of education by telling readers about America’s Ellis Isle in the story of how Bolivar’s family came to this country. Will O’The Wisp gets a cute tale of Missy the raccoon on her solo adventure out and about whilst her owner sleeps. Finally, the Farscape story finds Crichton and crew in a tight jam between a wronged merchant and a bounty hunter after their heads. But this is the great John Crichton and the crew of Moya we’re talking about, so you know they’ll find a way out.

All of the tales in this anthology are sweet little done in one stories that can add to your love of the preexisting tales or be a great intro into something new. Easily handed to comic readers of all ages, this mixture of 6 stories in a great hard binding makes Archaia’s FCBD offering an easy 10 out of 10

Rise of the Magi

Top Cow’s comic for this FCBD is a prelude to the upcoming comic series Rise of the Magi by Marc Silvestri. Now most people think of Silvestri as a comic penciler, known for such great works as The Darkness and Witchblade, but here he is handling script duties and letting Sumeyye Kegsin draw the story. Kegsin is an artist with a fun style, but some of the panels look rather rough in this magic filled fantasy adventure. But while Kegsin isn’t drawing on Silvestri’s level, Silvestri certain has surprised me with a very funny and interesting script. The dialogue is quite amusing, though this FCBD story is quite short. Thankfully there is a fair amount of behind the scenes stuff in the back of the comic, filling many of the pages with character designs and background layouts.

The story of Rise of the Magi follows Asa, a young comic reading carpet repairman who works for his father. His father is sadly not a comic fan, but wants his son to succeed him in his business. Unfortunately Asa has other dreams and attempts to pursue them by sneaking into Crystal City where the Spell Guards guard an orb of pure magic. As often happens at the start of these things, when Asa gets there he finds a huge surprise that will change everything.

This comic is not necessarily all ages appropriate, with a few uses of the word ‘ass’ and a bit of violence, but I still feel it is a great comic that could be quite enjoyed by most readers 10 and older. I give Rise of the Magi a solid 7 out of 10.

Guardians of the Galaxy

With Marvel Studios next big movie being Guardians of the Galaxy, out this August, it should be no surprise that the company is promoting the series on Free Comic Book Day (especially when many comic readers still have no clue who Peter Quill and the others are). So to help familiar people with the Guardians, Brian Michael Bendis is giving fans a story that explains just who this team is made up of while introducing a new member to the line up in the way of Flash Thompson. An unexpected addition, but it makes for a fun story that should lead into more intriguing tales to come when this storyline picks up in the main Guardians of the Galaxy comic series. The story is drawn by Nick Bradshaw, who does a great job detailing the action, though I can’t say I’m a fan of the costume they chose for Starlord in this comic or how fluffy Rocket Raccoon looks here.

The Guardians story is then followed up with a preview of Jim Starlin’s upcoming Thanos graphic novel, The Infinity Revelation. We get 5-pages that also feature the Guardians and are just enough to have me waiting for the OGN’s release in August. But that’s not all that is in this free Marvel comic, as a third story wraps up the issue with a prelude to November’s Spider-Verse. In this story there are no Guardians of the Galaxy, but rather the Spider-Man of 1602, performing his feats at England’s Old Globe theater in a period equivalent of theater and wrestling. But while this might be reminiscent to how Spider-Man once earned his name in the ring, the sudden twist when Morlun arrives shows a very different outcome. Guiseppe Camuncoli does a great job drawing Dan Slott’s script here and I’m suddenly left excited for yet another upcoming Marvel project.

This title is not nearly as kid friendly as Marvel’s free Rocket Raccoon comic, and might be more aimed at the long time Marvel zombies. Still, it is an enjoyable read and worth an easy 7 out of 10.

DC’s Future’s End

The big free comic of the year is DC’s lead into their weekly comic event, Future’s End. This story looks like DC’s version of Age of Ultron, starting out 35 years into a future where Brother Eye has taken over and converted most of the super humans into monstrous androids as if out of a bad 80’s sci-fi dystopian. Now we’ve see Brother Eye do some evil in the DC universe before, with a major role in Infinite Crisis. This time it seems more damaging and yet less thrilling. The issue has a vast and unique cast of characters including an old bearded Flash, Blue Beetle, and Batman Beyond’s Terry McGuiness. Equally vast and unique is the case of writers on this comic. Much like DC’s very successful weekly series, 52, Future’s End has 4 writers: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, and Keith Giffen. It’s an odd collection but it could make for a great team. Unfortunately the opening zero issue we get this week doesn’t truly draw me in. I’m intrigued enough by the ending that I’ll follow it up with the first issue when it hits stands next Wednesday, but over all the urgency to read more or the gravity of this apocalyptic future just doesn’t seem to sink in, much like with Age of Ultron. Perhaps dystopian robot futures aren’t as sellable to me or other comic readers? Perhaps not? We’ll see.

The art for Future’s End varies throughout the issue with several different artists working on the title. It actually flows quite well all things considered, but many of the robotic designs just look so ridiculous it’s laughable. Some of the futuristic interpretations of heroes and villains are rather cool though. But in the same, some of them are dark and twisted in ways that make this not an all ages friendly comic title. This might be one better reserved for long time DC fans looking to jump into the next big DC thing. Overall it earns a meager 6 out of 10 from me.